On Monday 23 September, an international fleet of 30 yachts will line up for the start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race - an 1,802 mile, fully crewed, non-stop race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC).

Weather forecasts are predicting a wild ride, especially as the boats pass Galway, the finishing port for the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Race.

Two Volvo Open 70s will be on the start line - Telefonica Azul, skippered by Iker Martinez, and Groupama, helmed by Franck Cammas. It will be the first encounter between two boats in their class since the end of the last Volvo Ocean Race.

"The Sevenstar will be our first race in Volvo Ocean Race mode," said Cammas. "This time we will really find out how we have progressed, since the end of last year with Team Groupama."

The French skipper believes that there will be few opportunities like the Round Britain and Ireland Race to compare their performance against another Volvo Open 70.

Read the full story here: http://www.volvooceanrace.com/news/article/2010/august/round-britain-ireland-...